“No, no, you can’t just punch a ghost,” Luce sighed, pointing to the slideshow. “Have you been paying any attention?”
“Yeah, totally, of course!” MegaGirl said, her gaze drifting back to the squirrels outside the window.
Luce rubbed her temples, trying to stay calm. Professional. “Daisy, if you don’t-”
“My name is MegaGirl!” she cried, trying to scramble out of her desk and tripping on her cape.
“Okay, fine, MegaGirl. You need to know how to deal with non-corporeal enemies.”
“Can’t I just bring Phantasma with me, and she can talk to them, get them to back off?”
“Well, Daphne isn’t always going to be around to help you. You need to know how to do things on your own.” Luce gestured to the screen again. “I’ve been studying the paranormal for decades, which is why I was recruited to teach all you fledgling heroes everything I know.” She glared at MegaGirl over her glasses. “You, Daisy, are the only one who’s needed private tutoring.”
“Yippee for me,” MegaGirl muttered. “Why would I ever have to deal with the paranormal, anyway? My abilities are super-strength, rapid healing, and flight. No one is ever going to call me in to clear out ghosts or demons.”
“You can’t know that,” Luce said. “Remember what happened to Zoomer?”
“No,” MegaGirl pouted.
“Exactly. He got called into a situation he wasn’t prepared for, and he broke his leg. And before you ask, yes, he had super healing, like you. But the ghosts he was fighting called on a demon, which cursed him, and the leg never healed. I think he works at an IHOP now.”
MegaGirl leaned forward, suddenly interested. “So, curses are real?”
Luce nodded, a little suspicious of her sudden interest.
“Can I learn how to curse people?”
“Daisy! That is not at all what you are here for! You are here to learn how to be a hero, how to save people, hell, how to break curses, not cast them!” Luce shook her head. “I don’t know why I thought I could get through to you. Daisy, do you understand that if you don’t pass this class with me, you might get kicked out of the program entirely?”
MegaGirl stared at her. “Wh-what?”
“Yeah,” Luce said, her eyes widening. “Dr. Solar said this was your last chance, as much as he hates to expel any student.”
“Bu-but,” MegaGirl stammered, “what would I do if I get kicked out? What happens to me then?”
“Well,” Luce said, tapping her finger against her chin, “I think you go through a round of interviews and tests, to make sure you won’t use your powers for evil, and then you are released into the world, where you will be checked up on periodically to make sure you aren’t getting into trouble. I think I could get Zoomer to give you a job at IHOP.”
“But I don’t want to be normal!” MegaGirl wailed. “I want to be a hero!”
“Well, then,” Luce said, patting her on the back gently. “I guess you better learn about how to banish ghosts and demons from me, without calling Phantasma to help.”
MegaGirl nodded, wiping away her tears. “You said something about demons earlier. Can I punch a demon?”
Luce suppressed another sigh. Was that her solution to everything? “Technically, yes, you can punch a demon. But I would strongly suggest that you use these tools first. Demons are nasty to deal with, and I’ve seen them take down heroes stronger than you.”
–
The rest of the lesson went smoothly, for the most part. Once MegaGirl started paying attention, she was fascinated by the world beyond the physical, by a world so different from her own. She promised to finish her reading, and practice banishing charms until their next lesson. Luce figured she would actually do the latter, but maybe “forget” about the former. It was progress, though.
Luce took a deep breath after MegaGirl left for her combat classes. She was an eager student, when you could get her attention. Luce jumped slightly when a cough came from the doorway.
“Dr. Solar really said he’d expel her?”
Luce turned, and blushed slightly as she saw Shula leaning there, grinning at her.
“No,” Luce admitted, resting against the desk. “I may have embellished our conversation a little. As motivation.”
Shula laughed, her dark eyes flashing red. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”
Luce opened her mouth, about to say “I don’t think you could,” but thought better of it. She was professional. Always professional.
Shula seemed to know there was something unsaid, though. She grinned. “Want to come watch me help Coach motivate the track team by throwing fireballs at their heels?”
“Sounds fun,” Luce said, racking her brain for an excuse. She couldn’t find one. “Let me get my coat.”
“Or I could keep you warm,” Shula said, winking, before turning and gliding from the room.
Luce stared after her, mouth agape for a few moments, before a grin of her own spread across her face. She ran after Shula, coat forgotten.
Inspired by a writing prompt from Writing Prompt Generator.
© The Lightning Tower, 2020